Pneumatic release for crushers



, at the point X of Figure Patented June l, 1954 non PNEUMATIC RELEASE FOR CRUSHERS Oscar C. Gruender,

Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Nordberg Manufacturing Company,

Milwaukee,

Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 5, 1951, Serial No. 259,940

15 Claims. l

My invention relates to an improvement in releases for Crushers and has for one purpose to provide a release for crushers in which a normally fixed bowl or crushing member is opposed to a moving or gyrated crushing head.

Another purpose is to provide a pneumatic release for crushers.

Another purpose is to provide a simple pneumatic release in which a substantially uniform pressure is maintained at a plurality of points about the Crusher, the pressure being sufficient to prevent movement of the normally xed bowl except when predetermined excess crushing stresses arise.

Another purpose is to provide a simple system for maintaining a substantially uniform pneumatic pressure throughout a pneumatic release system in which a number of individual pneumatic elements are employed.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my application Serial No. 697,227 for Pneumatic Release for Cone Crushers, filed in the United States Patent Oflice September 16, 1946.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a. vertical axial section with parts omitted;

Figure 2 is a section on a reduced scale onthe line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a partial section scale on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line ll-ll of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a partial section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 6 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 8 6 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a partial side view of the structure of Figure l.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates the upper part of a generally cylindrical main frame. 2 is a hub which may be secured to or formed integrally with the circumferential portion I. Positioned at I is a normally fixed shaft 3 which is surrounded by an eccentrically apertured sleeve li. At the lower end of the sleeve Il is a bevel gear 5 in mesh with a drive pinion B on the shaft Ea. Any suitable means may be employed for rotating the shaft 5a and for thereby rotating the sleeve d. As will be clear from Figure l, the sleeve is eccentrically apertured. The axis of rotation of the sleeve is indicated by the line A of Figure l, whereas the axis of the exterior bearing surface of the sleeve is indicated by the line B of Figure l. The two axes intersect on an enlarged Surrounding the exterior of the sleeve l is the crusher head generally indicated as I and having a sleeve portion la which surrounds the eccentrically apertured sleeve l. It will be understood that in response to rotation of the shaft 6a, and therefore of the sleeve d, the head 'l is given a gyratory movement about the center X. The head I is shown as carrying a crushing mantle or ring 8.

The circumferential main frame portion I is indicated as having an upper, outwardly extending ange Ia. Resting upon it is the ring 9 shown as having a circumferential, downwardly extending centering and positioning flange It. The ring is provided with an upwardly extending, inner flange II having a tapered inner surface l Ia and a generally cylindrical outer surface I lb. The ring I I may be held in position by a plurality of locking screws I2.

Tiltably mounted upon the flange Il is the bowl supporting ring generally indicated at I3. It includes an upwardly extending inner portion or element i4, having inwardly disposed screw threads Ilia. The member I3 has a lower, outwardly extending enlargement I5, which is downwardly channeled or recessed to conform to the inwardly tapered or conic flange II, there being sufficient clearance, however, to permit the ring I3 to be tilted.

I6 generally indicates a bowl structure having an outer generally cylindrical portion Il', having outwardly extending screw threads ila. adapted to interpenetrate with the inwardly extending screw threads Ma of the bowl supporting member I4, whereby in response to relative rotation of the members I 4 and I'I, the bowl supporting structure I 5 can be raised or lowered. Any suitable hopper I8 may be mounted on the bowl it and any suitable bowl liner or crushing ring I9 may be suitably mounted'on the lower inner part of the bowl I6, the details of the locking means not forming part of the present invention. The screw threads Ilia and IIa are suitably protected by a lower sealing ring 20 and by an upper sealing ring 2|. The upper ring 2! is locked between a skirt or annulus 22 and an upper part of the ring member I4. The skirt 22 depends from and is secured to an upper, outer portion of the bowl member I'I. I may employ any suitable means to lock the opposed screw threads against unintended rotation. The screws 23 serve to take the slack out of the opposed threads.

' It will be understood that the opposed members v-8 and I'9 form a crushing cavity, the member 3 being gyrated with the head l, and the upper or bowl member I9 being normally xed. A purpose of the present invention is to provide a suitable yielding release for permitting the whole bowl structure and with it the upper ring II 9 to tilt upwardly away from the head when an uncrushable member or mass becomes posishown between the outer surface IIb of the flange Il and the opposed part of the ring i5,Y

I do provide suiii-cient clearance to permit an upward tilting movement ci one side of the ring I5, the diametrically opposed side serving as a pivot. In order normally to hold the ring I3 and, with it, the crushing element I9 in fixed position, I provide a plurality of cylinders, each `with its associated piston. Whereas my system may under some circumstances operate hydraulically, I describe and show it herein as a pneumatic system. As a matter of convenience, I provide a plurality of downwardly open-ended cylinders 23. EachY such cylinder is shown as downwardly open with an upwardly extending centering member 23 entering an appropriate aperture in flange la. The cylinders may be held imposition for example by receivingrthe screw-threaded lower ends of some of the locke ing screws I2.` Whereas Iinay arrangethe cylinders 25 in a variety of positions or arrangements, I nd itadvantageous to arrange them in pairs, as shown in Figure 2, the lpairs of cylinders being separated generally uniformly about-the exterior of the circumferential main frame member I, to which they are closely adjacent.

Each cylinder receives an upwardly extending hollow open-topped piston 23. These pistons are shown arranged in pairs, as shown for example in Figure '7, each pair O fpistons 28 being secured by'means of screws 29a to a bottoml yoke 29. Each piston` is provided with an O ring type packing 23a,l located ina. groove as shown in Figure 4. Each yoke has a central hub through which passes the lower end of the tension member orrod 3l. As shown for example at the left side of Figure l, each such rod-has a screwthreaded lower portion to which is adjustably arranged va nut 32 having a generally spherical upper face 32a, opposed'to a correspondingly spherical face 30a at they bottom of the hub 30. The hub is apertured asat 36h, the aperture 'being suicient to provide, at all normal positions, a clearance between the tension member or rod 3l and any part of the hub. All contact is between the opposed spherical surface 33a and 32a. Each rod 3l passes upwardly through appropriately large apertures in the ila-nge In, and the ring 9, and also through an outwardly extending lug of the ring I3... It will be understood that the ring I3 has aplurality of such lugs and that each such lug is aperturedas at35a and is provided with an upwardly concave top spherical surface 35D. Each tension member 3l has a top head 3m, with a sphericalor ball surface SIb; It will be understood that sunicient pressure is maintained within the cylinders 25 to urge the pistons 28 downwardly with sumcient force to hold the ring. I3 normally fixed in the position in which it is shown in Figure 1. However, if uncrushable material is in the spacebetween the Opposed crushingrmembers B and I3 an-d if for any reason a predetermined excess crushing stress takes place, the ring I3 will tilt upwardly and either free theuncrushable material or at least prevent breakage. The parts are so proportioned that at no normal position will there be any contact between the rods or tension members 3l and the hubs 30. or the. iiange la or the ring 9 or the` lugs 35. The, opposed balland socket joints at the upper and lower ends oi the rods 3l provide a uniform unit pressure on the socket joints and auniform tension on the rods 3i.

It is important to maintain substantially uni- Y form pressure throughout the system of pistons andcylinders thus provided. It lwill be understood that the cylinders may be arranged in groups. In Figure 2, I illustrate a single pressure sup-ply line opening for the entire system. It will be understood, however, that in crushers of large size, it may be practical to have two or more supply inlets. Referring, however, for example to Figures 2 and 6, I illustrates any suitable source of pressure from which a suitable fluid, such as air, may be delivered to a supply pipe generally indicated at Iii. This supply pipe is shown as having a release valve assembly 32, for exhausting to the atmosphere. It also has in communicationwith it any suitable pressure gauge 43. The supplypipe 4I is shown as delivering air under pressure, through the elbow Ma, to the interior of one of the cylinders 25. Eachl pair or cylinders is shown as connected by a communication duct 42. Each such duct is held against unintended endwise movement by any suitable, removable locking member 43, which is secured to or forms part of one of the cylinders of each pair. I nd it advantageous that the duct 42 be slidable in relation to the opposite cylinder of each pair, in order to compensate automatically for variations in distance between.

the cylinders. To provide against the loss of air around the sliolable ducts 42, I employ an 0 type sealing ring 44, as sho-wn in Figure 5. Where the compression member 3| for eachv pair of cylinders is located directly between the cylinders, the fluid connection between the cylinders of a pair maybe opposite, as shown in the upper half of Figure 5. Between the opposed cylinders of adjacent pairs, similar connecting ducts 42 are employed with the locking means 133, but these ducts may be aligned between the axes ofthe cylinders. Where reinforcing webs are employed, as shown at Ib in Figure 5, such webs may be apertured as at Ic to permit the passage therethrough of the ducts 42. By the employment of the system of ducts 42 as shown in Figure 5, the entire series, or sub-groups of cylinders, may be connected to the compressor 40, or to any other suitable source of pressure. The individual pistons 28 are shown, as in Figure 4, with cylindrically surfaced upper portions, in which any suitable sealing rings 28a may be recessed. A lubricant may be applied to any suitable tting 45 communicating with the exterior lubricating hollow 45a of each piston 28. This also has for oneresult to prevent corrosion.

With reference to the supply of air under pressure, 53 illustrates an alternative connection to any suitable plant air supply. 5i is an emergency valve which can be closed. 52 in Figure 6 is any suitable. relief valve which can be set to the maximum permissible pressure. 53 is any suitable exhaust valve. The valves d2 and 53 may be employed to drain moisture from the system.

It will be realized that whereas I have de scribed and shown a practical and operative embodiment of my invention, nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition o parts without departing from the spirit of my invention.` I therefore wish my descriptionV and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic. rather ange ia.

than as limiting me to my specic disclosure herein.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I illustrate a simple and e'lcient pneumatic release system which may be applied advanta tively flat, obtusely conic ring 8 is gyrated toward i and away from the normally fixed and also obtusely conic ring or element I9. It will be undervstood that the shapes and conformities and proportions of the opposed crushing elements may be widely varied. Any crusher where a bowl structure needs to be released in response to excess crushing stresses is a proper crusher for the application of this release. In the particular embodiment of my invention as herein shown, I employ a plurality of downwardly open, generally cylindrical cylinders adapted to exert an upward thrust against the lower side of the main frame As a matter of easy assembly and simplicity of the structure, I insert hollow, generally cylindrical pistons 28.into the open ports of the cylinders 25. Where a pneumatic supply is maintained in the plant, I may use plant pressure in the cylinders. Or I may employ a com-` presser, as shown at 40 in Figure 6. Or I may employ a combination of the two. In any event, I employ some suitable releasing means or relief valve, as shown at 52, and normally maintain a pressure somewhat higher than the preslsure at which non-crushable material will pass through the crusher. For example, if the cylinders may at 450 lbs. per sq. in. pass tramp iron and the like, and if the maximum permissible pressure is 475 lbs., I set the relief valve 52 to operate at 475 lbs., thereby dropping the pressure at least to 450 lbs.

I claim:

1. In a pneumatic release for gyratory crushers and the like, and in combination with the circumferential main frame of such a crusher, a

circumferential flange on an upper portion of said main frame, and a bowl supporting ring tiltably mounted above said flange and in vertical alignment therewith, said flange and ring constituting a pair of relatively tiltable elements,

-a bowl supported on said ring, and a crushing head mounted within said main frame and means -for gyrating said crushing head, the opposed head and bowl defining together a crushing cavity, and means for releasably holding the ring normally xed in relation to the main frame, while permitting it to tilt upwardly in relation to the main frame, in response to excess crush"- ing stresses, at any point about the circumfere ence of said relatively tiltable elements, said means including a plurality of open-ended cyl:- inders spaced circumferentially about the crush-7 er, and means for normally xedly securing them to one of said relatively tiltable members, pistons moving in each cylinder and including portions extending outwardly through the open ends of the cylinders, a plurality of tension members extending from a level above the upper of said relatively tiltable elements to a level below the lower of said relatively tiltable elements, and means for exibly securing each said tension member atene end in relation to one of said:V vpistons and at lthe otherend in relation to the relatively tiltable member opposite the member to which the cylinders are fixed.

2. The structure of Vclaim 1 characterized in that the open-ended cylinders are secured in relation to and beneath the flange on the main frame with their open ends down, and in that the tension members are exibly secured at their upper ends to the bowl supporting ring.

3. 'Ihe structure of claim 1 characterized in that the open-ended cylinders are arranged in pairs, and including transversely extending connections between the pistons of each pair.

4. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the open-ended cylinders are arranged in pairs, and including transversely extending connections between the pistons of each pair, and in that one of the tension members is flexibly secured to each such transversely extending member at a point generally midway between the pistons to which such transversely extending member is connected.

5. In a pneumatic release for gyratory Crushers and the like, and in combination with the circumferential main frame of such a crusher, a circumferential flange on an upper portion of said main frame, and a bowl supporting ring tiltably mounted above said ange and in vertical alignment therewith, a bowl supported on said ring, and a crushing head mounted within said frame and means for gyrating said crushing head, the opposed head and bowl defining together a crushing cavity, and means for releasably urging said ring downwardly against said flange, while permitting it to tilt upwardly in relation thereto, in response to excess crushing stresses, at any point about the circumference of the main frame, said means including a plurality of open-ended cylinders spaced circumferentially about the Crusher and normally xed below the circumferential flange, the open-ended cylinders being downwardly open, pistons movable in each cylinder, said pistons including por tions extending downwardly through the open ends of the cylinders, tension members extending from a level below the circumferential flange to a level above the bowl supporting ring, said open-ended cylinders being arranged in pairs and each pair having a transverse yoke rigidly secured at each end in relation to the piston of 'one cylinder of the pair, a flexible connection between a lower portion of each tension member and an intermediate part of one of said yokes, and an additional flexible connection between the upper end of each tension member and the bowl supporting ring.

6. In a pneumatic release for gyratory Crushers and the like, and in combination with the circumferential main frame of such a crusher, a circumferential fiange on an upper portion of said main frame, and a bowl supporting ring tiltably mounted above said flange and in vertical alignment therewith, said flange and'ring constituting a pair of relatively tiltable elements, a bowl supported on said ring, and a crushing head mounted within said main frame and -means for gyrating said crushing head, the opposed head and bowl defining together a crushing cavity, and means for releasably holding the ring normally fixed in relation to the main frame, while permitting it to tilt upwardly in relation to the main frame, in response to excess crushing stresses, at any point about the circumference of said relatively tiltable elements, said means including a plurality of cylinders spaced circumferentially about the crusher, and

means for -normally fixedlysecuring them to one of said relatively tiltable members, pistons moving in each cylinder and including portions extending outwardly throughan end of each cylinder, a plurality of tensionmembers extending from a level above the upper of said relatively tiltable elements to a level below the lower of said relatively tiltable elements, and means for flexibly securing each said tension member at 4one end in relation to one of said pistons and at the other end in relation to the relatively tiltably mounted above said flange and in vertical alignment therewith, said flange and ring constituting a pair of relatively tiltable elements,

a bowl supported on lsaid ring, and a crushing ,head mounted `within said main frame and means for gyrating said crushing head, the op- `posed head and bowl dening together a crushing cavity, and means for releasably holding the ring normally xed in relation to the main frame, while permitting it to tilt upwardly in relation to the main frame, in response to excess crushing stresses, at any point about the circumference of said relatively tiltable elements,

.said means including a plurality of cylinders spaced circumferentially about the crusher, and means for normally xedly securing them to one of said relatively tiltable members, pistons vmoving in each cylinder and forming with the Acylinder above the piston a single air pressure chamber, said pistons including portions extending outwardly from -an end of each cylinder, a plurality of tension members extending from a level above the upper of said relatively tiltable elements to a level below the lower of said relatively tiltable elements, and means for flexibly securing -each said tension member at one end in relation to one of said pistons and at the other end in relation to the relatively tiltable member opposite the member to which the cylinders are nxed, ducts connecting a plurality of said air pressure chambers in a common pneumatic system, and means for supplying a predetermined air pressure to such system.

8. The structure of claim 1, characterized by and including means for maintaining a predetermined and generally uniform air pressure within all the cylinders, and relief means for I simultaneously reducing the pressure within the said cylinders in response to a predetermined excess crushing stress.

9. The structure of claim l, characterized by and including means for lubricating the clearance spaces between the pistons and cylinders.

10. The structure of claim 1, characterized by and including supplemental independent lubricating systems for the individual cylinders, each Asaid system including a lubricant supply unit in communication with the clearance space between a piston and cylinder and an annular groove in said piston in communication with said -lubricant supply unit.

11. In a yielding release assembly for crushers and the like, an open-ended cylinder and means for securing it to a part of the crusher, a piston movable in said cylinder and means for securing said piston to a part of the crusher movable in `relation to the Apart of the crusher to which the cylinder is secured, a circumferential .seal extending about the clearance space between the piston and the cylinder and means located between said seal and the open end of the cylinder for lubricating the clearance space between piston and cylinder, said means including a lubricant supply unit connected to said cylinder, a passage in the wall of said cylinder adapted to place said lubricant supply unit in communication with said clearance space, and an annular groove in the wall of said piston adapted for registration with said passage during a portion of the movement of said piston within said cylinder.

i2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a ball and socket connection between each end of each tension member and one of the relatively tiltable elements.

13. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including air connections between adjacent cylinders, each said air connection including a duct secured to one cylinder and in slidable relation with another.

14. The structure of claim l characterized by and including ducts connecting the cylinders into a single pressure system, there being a duct extending between each adjacent pair of cylinders, each such duct being secured to one cylinder and slidable in relation to another cylinder, and a supply duct adapted to supply air under pressure to said pressure system.

l5. In a pneumatic release for gyratory crushers and the like, and in combination with the circumferential main frame of such a crusher, a circumferential flange on an upper portion of said main frame, and a bowl supporting ring tiltably mounted above said flange and in vertical alignment therewith, said flange and ring constituting a pair of relatively tiltable elements, a bowl supported cn said ring, and a crushing head mounted within said main frame and means for gyrating said crushing head, the opposed head and bowl defining together a crushing cavity, and means for releasably holding the ring normally fixed in relation to the main frame, while permitting it to tilt upwardly in relation to the main frame, in. response to excess crushing stresses, at any point about the circumference of said relatively tiltable elements, said means including a plurality of piston and cylinder assemblies spaced circumferentially about the crusher, said assemblies including cylinder members and piston members movable in relation to said cylinder members, means for securing said cylinder members to one of said relatively tiltable elements and means for securing said piston members to the other'of said relatively tiltable elements, one

of said members being ixedly secured to its tiltable element, the other being flexibly secured to its tiltable element, a plurality of tension members extending from a level above the upper of said relatively tiltable elements to a level below the lower of said relatively tiltable elements, and means for flexibly securing each said tension member at one end in relation to one member of said cylinder and piston assembly and at the other end in relation to the relatively tiltable element opposite the element to which the other member of said piston and cylinder assembly is fixed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

